Cam Gallagher is headed back to Omaha, but he'll always have the Sonic Slam (as will Tim Brown of Shawnee, Kansas).
The Royals activated Salvador Perez from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday, optioning Gallagher to their Triple-A affiliate to clear roster space for their All-Star catcher.
Gallagher had an eventful stint backing up Drew Butera with the Royals, hitting a sixth-inning grand slam that lifted the Royals to a win over Oakland and making Brown $25,000 richer. It was only his second major league hit and the RBIs were his first as a big leaguer. Gallagher returns to the minors with a .385 average (5 for 13), one homer and five RBIs in five games.
Perez is back after rehabbing a right intercostal strain that had sidelined him since suffering the injury Aug. 4. The Royals went 6-9 during his absence and now trail the AL wild-card race by 1 1/2 games and the first-place Indians by seven games.
In other moves Tuesday, the Royals reinstated outfielder Paulo Orlando from the 60-day DL and optioned him to the Storm Chasers and also recalled right-handed reliever Miguel Almonte from Omaha and placed him on the 60-day DL with a right rotator cuff strain.
